Ex-Big Brothers Big Sisters worker accused of using group to steal personal info from federal prosecutor

FLINT, MI – A former worker for Big Brothers Big
Sisters is accused of stealing personal information of a federal
prosecutor and others who signed up for the program, according to a federal complaint.

The worker allegedly used the money for cocaine, the complaint claims.

Amanda Casanova, of Flint, is charged with aggravated
identity theft and mail fraud.

She was immediately fired when Big Brothers Big
Sisters learned of the allegations, said CEO and President Reta Stanley.

Casanova was a work study student employed through
Davenport University and started this fall, Stanley said. Stanley said she was
devastated by the allegations.

"We are working to ensure the public that while there was a
breach in our security in our office we are doing everything possible to safeguard
their personal information," Stanley said.

According to the complaint, Casanova allegedly used
the personal information she obtained to apply for credit cards and then bought
cell phones with them. She and her boyfriend then sold the cell phones for $140
to buy cocaine for her use, the complaint alleges.

One of those she allegedly scammed was an unnamed assistant
prosecutor who worked at the federal courthouse in Flint.

Earlier this fall,
several employees at the courthouse agreed to participate in the program and
had to give personal information for background checks.

The assistant prosecutor received a call from a bank
inquiring about a credit card in his name. Since he didn't apply for a credit
card, he did a credit check and discovered several credit cards were taken out
on his name without his permission, the complaint said.

He then contacted a U.S. Secret Service agent on Dec. 9, who then
opened an investigation.

The agent was able to track the unauthorized credit
cards to two addresses on West Rankin Avenue near Martin Luther King Avenue.

An agent went to do surveillance on one of the homes on Dec.
10 when he saw a woman, later identified as Casanova, retrieve some mail,
which included items with the names of the assistant prosecutor and another
courthouse employee, from the home. The agent confronted Casanova and she was
then arrested.

During an interview,
she admitted that she was using the fraudulent information to obtain the credit
cards, according to the complaint.

The boyfriend, who has not been charged with
the crime, was arrested on an outstanding state warrant. He allegedly told investigators
that Casanova obtained names, birth dates and social security numbers of the
victims, the complaint said.

Stanley said BBBS is not certain how Casanova obtained the
information and are working to limit the access to personal information for
employees.

Casanova has been arraigned on the charges. Her attorney, Jerome Sabbota, could not be reached for comment.